Friday, February 3, 2012

Winter Creek

I took some time during a warm, sunny afternoon to wander
down and enjoy the creek.The creek is
always at its best in late winter and early spring.The water is perfectly clear and is a joy to
watch as it splashes its way around the rocks.

We’ve had at least two winter floods with enough energy to
move any rock smaller than a trash can lid, so the creek bottom has been
thoroughly rearranged.I see the creek
often enough to notice the changes.The
individual rocks may be different, but the overall effect is the same.The creek channel is just as pretty and
serves exactly the same function as it always has.

A stone and gravel creek bottom is my favorite.Not only is it an attractive visual display;
hordes of neat aquatic creatures can be found here.

When I was four years old, the downspout at the corner of
our house emptied into a rocky depression that looked much like this creek
pool.After each rain, I would position
myself belly down beside the pool with my face almost touching the water.Except for those created by my mind, I saw no
aquatic dwellers in the pool.My
knowledge of aquatic organisms has increased through the years, but the
excitement of looking at a rocky stream bottom through clear water has not
diminished.

The water moves its way downstream through an alternating
series of fast moving and slow moving water areas.Each section has unique characteristics and
provides for the needs of specific aquatic creatures.To the casual observer, each transition from
one zone to another provides a unique visual and auditory experience that gives
importance to the creek even to those who know nothing of stream ecology.

I’ll enjoy the creek as much as possible now, since I know
it will most likely be dry this summer.

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ABOUT BLUE JAY BARRENS

Located in the Bluegrass region of Southern Ohio, Blue Jay Barrens contains excellent xeric habitat inhabited by a wide variety of rare native plant and animal species. Since 1985, this private property has been managed to improve the integrity of the special ecosystems found here. This blog provides information on the current activities at Blue Jay Barrens.

RESPONSE TO COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BLOG

It’s my intent to share information on current events at Blue Jay Barrens. Unless otherwise noted in the text, all photos were taken by me at Blue Jay Barrens.

Plant scientific names are from Gleason and Cronquist 1991. I realize that some changes in preferred nomenclature have occurred, but this is the principle reference I have been using for flora identification. Knowing this, I believe most people can figure out just what plant I’m talking about.

My discussions of flora and fauna are not intended to be a complete life history. There are plenty of good references for this type of information. I am discussing my personal experiences with plants and animals on this specific property. Any other information I may provide is intended to help you understand the significance of my observations.

MY 3 FAVORITE NATURE BOOKS:

1- Of Mosquitoes, Moths and Mice, by C Brooke Worth.2- Mosquito Safari: A Naturalist in Southern Africa, by C Brooke Worth.3- A Naturalist in Trinidad, by C Brooke Worth.

MY 3 FAVORITE FICTION BOOKS:

1- The Witches of Karres by James H Schmitz2- The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham3- The Windhover Tapes (1st 3 volumes) by Warren Norwood

MY 3 FAVORITE MOVIES:

1- Vanishing Point 1971 with Barry Newman2- Flim Flam Man 1967 with George C Scott - also like the book by Guy Owens3- The Lathe Of Heaven 1979 with Bruce Davison - also like the book by Ursula K LeGuin

MY 3 FAVORITE TV SHOWS:

1- The Prisoner with Patrick McGoohan2- Fawlty Towers with John Cleese3- Kolchak: The Night Stalker with Darren McGavin